Use when helping with purchase decisions, product research, or deal hunting — covers price comparison frameworks, evaluation criteria, and tier-based recommendations
When helping with purchase decisions, product comparisons, deal hunting, gift shopping, finding the best value, or evaluating products across price tiers.
1. Search the product across 3+ sources
2. Compare: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, specialty retailers
3. Check for active coupons, promo codes, or cashback
4. Factor in shipping cost (free shipping thresholds matter)
5. Check refurbished/open-box options if user is budget-conscious
6. Note price history context: "This is $20 below the typical price"
For every product, evaluate:
Always present options in 3 tiers:
Budget: $XX -- [product name] -- key tradeoff (e.g., "plastic build")
Mid: $XX -- [product name] -- best value (RECOMMEND this one)
Premium: $XX -- [product name] -- why it costs more (e.g., "titanium, 5yr warranty")
Default recommendation is mid-tier unless user specifies budget or premium preference.
1. User: "Find me a [product]" / "I need a [thing]"
2. Clarify requirements if vague: size, color, budget, use case
3. Search for the product across multiple sources
4. Pick top 3-5 candidates across price tiers
5. For top candidates, gather specs, reviews, and pricing details
6. Present comparison table: price, rating, key specs, pros/cons
7. Recommend the best value option
8. If user approves: provide purchase link or details
1. Search for "best deals [product] [current month] [year]"
2. Check deal aggregators: Slickdeals, CamelCamelCamel, Honey
3. Compare current price vs historical low
4. Report: "Current price: $X. Historical low: $Y. This is a [good/bad/average] deal."
1. Ask: recipient, occasion, budget range, interests
2. Generate 5 gift ideas spanning categories
3. For each: product link, price, why it fits the recipient
4. Include one "wildcard" option that's unexpected but thoughtful
1. Check if user has mentioned previous purchases
2. If found: "Last time you bought [product] from [retailer] for $X"
3. Check if price has changed
4. Offer to reorder same or suggest alternatives if price went up
| Retailer | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Everything, fast shipping | Check third-party vs sold-by-Amazon |
| Walmart | Groceries, household, budget | Free shipping over $35 |
| Target | Home, kids, beauty | RedCard saves 5% |
| Best Buy | Electronics, appliances | Price match guarantee |
| Costco | Bulk, quality brands | Membership required |
| eBay | Used, refurbished, rare | Check seller rating |
| Wirecutter | Expert reviews | NYT-owned, thorough testing |
| User says | Interpret as |
|---|---|
| "cheap" / "budget" | Bottom 25% price range for category |
| "reasonable" / "good value" | Mid-range, best bang for buck |
| "best" / "top of the line" | Premium, price is secondary |
| "under $X" | Hard ceiling, include options 10-20% below |
| No budget mentioned | Default to mid-range, show all 3 tiers |
Laptop: RAM > SSD > CPU > Screen > Battery > Weight
Phone: Camera > Battery > Screen > Storage > CPU
Headphones: Sound > Comfort > Battery > ANC > Mic
TV: Panel type > Size > HDR > Refresh rate > Smart OS
Appliances: Reliability > Features > Noise > Energy rating > Price
Furniture: Comfort > Durability > Dimensions > Assembly > Style
Kitchen tools: Material > Dishwasher safe > Ergonomics > Brand